Still Growing Podcast

The Source Code: Why I Quit Chasing Hype to Build a Real Media Platform

THE SIGNAL I’m writing this directly from a place of deep gratitude. Lately, creating content online for free has felt like screaming into an empty room. The algorithms fracture everyone’s focus, and it can get discouraging. But recently, something shifted. We gained our first true waves of paid subscribers right here on Substack. I want to take a moment to shout out Yasmeen for being our very first subscriber, and Michelle for locking in as our first yearly supporter. I also want to thank our new monthly members, Kiaera and Miss EJ (Ms. Cherron’s mom). If you want a quick story about how real community works, I met Miss EJ at a sculpture garden about a year ago. She supported the brand, but more importantly, she bought me a case of water. Anyone who knows me knows that clean water is my actual love language. Every morning at 8:50 AM, I am boiling, mineralizing, and prepping a liter of water with lime and salt to start my day. That simple act of care from a stranger stayed with me. These initial subscriptions are the fuel that keeps this platform independent. Your investment doesn’t go to an algorithm; it goes directly toward the rent, the technology, and the independent sourcing of real information. We are learning this layout together, and these numbers are proof that direct community support is louder than internet hype. THE MANAGERIAL TRAP A lot of people think that the goal of a creative life is just to be seen. We are conditioned to chase popularity, get close to famous people, or secure a steady city grant. But the truth is, while we are busy partying and looking for quick money, the people with the real capital just take our concepts and professionalize them. They use massive budgets to throw the exact events we built from scratch, essentially taking our jobs while we joust for a sliver of the spotlight. This creates a dependent lifestyle where we end up giving our best hours, energy, and ideas to corporate spaces that pay us just enough to remain stuck. I know what that trap looks like because I’ve been on both sides of it. After I closed my physical studio in 2023, I decided to take a step back. I told my friends I just wanted a simple job where I didn’t have to be the boss, so I went to work at a regular grocery store. What I saw there woke me up all over again. The environment was entirely toxic, full of heavy surveillance, intense micromanagement, and a deep sense of aggression toward regular people. Employees on the registers were constantly grieving because they couldn’t even afford the groceries they were scanning. The store I worked at ended up in a full-blown union fight. Within three months, I knew I had to engineer a real exit strategy. ARCHITECTURE OF THE BOTTOM To understand why I build the way I do today, you have to look at my original source code. My parents divorced when I was nine years old, and I went to live with my dad in Newport News, Virginia. He was a stoic Air Force veteran and a government contractor. He didn’t believe in handouts. Even though public school lunch was terrible, he insisted on paying $60 a week out of pocket for it. I didn’t want to eat the food, so I took half of that lunch money every week and invested it into an illicit trade. By 13, I was buying and selling weed to my friends. It started as a way to self-medicate and disassociate from the confusion of my home life, but it turned into my very first introduction to business acumen and recouping capital. My goal back then was simple: stay out of jail until I turned 25, retire by 30, and move to Miami with Scarface dreams. But life hits you fast. My perspective shifted forever when my close friend Jeremy (Worm) was shot and killed during a drug deal. Around that same time, I was listening to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. The final track, Mortal Man, features a conversation where a heavy point is made: most Black men lose the will to fight for their people and their dreams by the time they hit 30 because society completely breaks them down. I made a promise to myself and to Worm that I wouldn’t let this society break me. I committed right then to going completely legit. I dropped out of my Information Technology program, quit the block, and started studying media administration, publishing, and independent distribution. THE LIQUIDATION CLIMAX In 2015, my childhood friend Sean Mentis (Berlin) came back to Virginia after studying audio engineering at the University of the Arts in Philly. He had a full bachelor’s degree, but every time I saw him, he was trapped in the loop of constantly looking for a job. It didn’t sit right with me that someone could spend all that time and money on higher education and still have to beg an institution for a paycheck. We formed a bond, threw a highly successful independent show in Virginia in 2016, and by 2017, I packed up and moved to Philadelphia with him. I was entirely willing to leave my old life behind, especially after surviving a traumatic situation where I was shot directly in my own bed. When we got to Philly, I realized that regular corporate executives were managing brilliant, creative artists. To them, our culture was just a regular 9-to-5 accounting job. They didn’t understand the community, and they didn’t care about the roots. We were giving away our intellectual property, our likeness, and our publishing rights to massive conglomerates because we didn’t have our own administrative systems. That is exactly why I built Newports and News, to create a media framework where independent creators could become their own executives. THE DIGITAL EXIT STRATEGY The only way to beat a rigged game is to stop playing it. Between 2019 and 2023, I ran my own independent studio using clean business principles. We built seven independent streams of income, including ticket sales, merchandise, content development, and space rentals. I treated that rent money as my personal tuition. Instead of going into student debt, I paid for hands-on experience in the real market. Now, I am centralizing that entire ecosystem right here on Substack. Instagram cannot handle a 40-minute breakdown, and YouTube requires a heavy administrative lift that is hard to maintain alone. By launchpad-hosting our audio, video, and writing in one single space, we are creating a living archive that can’t be shut down by an algorithm. We are currently working toward a goal of 10 paid subscribers so we can upgrade this podcast into a consistent visual show. Once we clear that line, the next milestone is 100 subscribers so I can bring on a team to help manage the operational weight. Until then, I am personally committing to a strict weekly layout: written articles drop every Monday, and long-form audio episodes drop every Wednesday. To celebrate my birthday month and give back to the people investing early, I’m offering 50% off our next two intimate community activations on June 7th: * Still Growing: Planting, Food & Sound Activation (June 7th) [https://stan.store/terrenceharris/p/still-growing-planting-food--sound-activation]: Moving Still Growing into the agricultural space so we can learn to plant and own our own food supply. * Still Growing Sessions: The DIY Hat Workshop (August 9th) [https://stan.store/terrenceharris/p/still-growing-session-the-diy-hat-workshop]: A hands-on apparel production masterclass where we design the streetwear pieces the community loves. THE INTERNAL ECONOMY DIRECTORY Supporting the “Internal Economy” means showing up for the businesses that are actually holding the line. These aren’t just events; they are the physical manifestation of the equity we are building. Below is the Newports and News Approved list of recurring spaces and May activations where our community dollar stays within the ecosystem. Bari Butiki (Yasmeen Kenya) * The Mission: A holistic self-care boutique at 3860 Lancaster Ave where “Joy Starts With You”. * Activity: Wellness Sundays. A heart-centered space for restoration and community healing. * Schedule: Every Sunday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. * Action: [Register for Wellness Sundays Here] [http://baributiki.cim/] The Container Village (Mrs. Ytina) Location: 4862-70 Parkside Ave, Philadelphia, PA The Village provides the infrastructure for local vendors to grow capacity. Beyond their standard hours (Wed–Sun, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM), here is the May motion: * May 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th: Wellness Workout Wednesdays (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM). * May 21st: AI for Solopreneurs. A specialized session on building digital systems with ChatGPT and Canva (5:30 PM – 7:30 PM). * May 24th: Viking Day Party. * May 29th: Freestyle for Real Open Mic. Plant & People (Ms. Cherron) Location: 3952 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA A mother-daughter owned hub where culture, community, and greenery thrive. Join them for these specific May sessions: * Floral Fridays: Every Friday (May 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th). * May 20th: Tarot Night (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM). * May 23rd: Plant Care 101 (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) and Jokes N’ Bru Comedy (Doors open at 5:00 PM). * May 24th: Community Plant Swap (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM). Kanvas Venue (Ms. Michelle) * The Mission: Philadelphia’s premier creative and business event venue at 3870 Lancaster Ave. * Activity: Networking Mondays. A dedicated space for resource swapping and building strategic alliances. * Digital Content: Check out the YouTube show 30 Minutes With Him [https://youtube.com/@30minuteswithhim?si=ajyNnthoiqLn__ZN] hosted by Miss Michelle for community and spiritual insights. The Paid Subscriber Spotlight * Revel Rebel Universe: Support Kiaera the Creator for upcycled fashion and art that rebels against standard commercialism. [Link: rvlrbl.net [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://rvlrbl.net]] * 1random9: Follow him on Instagram @1random9 [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/1random9] for sonic activation, music production, and independent creative motion. THE ARCHITECT’S CALL If you made it all the way to the end of this 40-minute transmission, you are a real one. As a special thank you to this private circle, I am sharing a major announcement that only my coordinators and my girlfriend know about. This Fall, we are officially launching our landmark annual event: The Harvest. It will be a self-contained, community-funded gathering designed to celebrate everyone who holds down the brand. You can lock in your early access via The Harvest Registration Page [https://posh.vip/e/the-harvest-a-still-growing-gathering]. Now, I need you to step out of the audience and into the room. Every single Sunday, I am committing to dropping a direct mindset check inside our private Substack Chat. This is a closed harbor away from the public feeds where we can hold each other accountable, swap digital tools, and build real strategies for ownership. Inside the Chat Today: I just opened up the app with a raw question about today’s episode: What is the single biggest corporate or system dependency you are actively trying to design your way out of this year? Click the button below to download the app, head to our private chat tab, and let’s start processing this story together. Get full access to Newports and News's Substack at newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe [https://newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Legit Hustle Trap

“I would hope that we all have a bias toward our own humanity, that being treated like a human comes first.” In this episode, Terrence J. Harris breaks down a “teachable moment” regarding a distribution mistake and explores the psychological architecture of the “Legit Hustle Trap”. Moving beyond the surface of “legitimate” business, this briefing examines how the same strategic discipline learned in high-stakes, volatile environments, like the streets, is the exact toolset required to build a sovereign creative ecosystem. Field Notes & Briefing: * The Distribution Pivot: A transparent look at why “visual episodes” are the next milestone for the Newports + News platform and the role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in independent media. * The 50/30/20 Blueprint: Terrence shares his strategic financial framework for navigating credit utilization, reinvestment, and personal sustainability. * Community as a Renewable Resource: Redefining community not as a social circle, but as a bartering system of service that ensures survival when traditional currencies fail. * Exposure, Experience, Expansion: How putting yourself in positions to learn what you don’t yet know leads to inevitable growth. * The Architecture of Play: Why recreation and “child-like development” are essential tools for transmuted self-development. The Architecture of Partnership: The Push for 10 We are currently at 5 Foundational Partners. Our immediate milestone is to reach our first 10 subscribers. This isn’t about arbitrary growth; it’s about establishing the minimum viable capital required to move from the archive to the future. Reaching this “First 10” allows us to fund the production of dedicated, high-level visual broadcasts specifically for the Newports + News platform. Transparency in the Build: Sovereignty requires honesty about how resources move. For every $8 subscription: * Substack and Stripe take their 20% cut for transaction fees and platform hosting. * The remaining ~$6 goes directly into our production fund to cover specialized infrastructure, including AI editing tools and high-fidelity audio distribution. The 2026 Alignment Schedule To participate in the unfolding, secure your placement below. Space for intimate sessions is strictly limited. I. Still Growing Session: The Seed Planting * When: June 5th | 1:30 PM * The Investment: $25 (Includes materials + Sound Activation) * Link: Secure Your Placement on Stan Store [https://stan.store/terrenceharris/p/still-growing-planting-food--sound-activation] II. Still Growing Session: The DIY Hat Workshop * When: August 7th | 1:30 PM * The Investment: $25 (Includes Custom Hat Kit + Creative Direction) * Link: Secure Your Placement on Stan Store [https://stan.store/terrenceharris/p/still-growing-session-the-diy-hat-workshop] III. THE HARVEST: A Landmark Gathering * When: October 10th | 1:30 PM * Access: $10 (GA) or $55 (Founding Member Bundle) * Link: Get Tickets and Bundles on Posh [https://posh.vip/e/the-harvest-a-still-growing-gathering] Get full access to Newports and News's Substack at newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe [https://newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 0: The Architecture of Realignment

"Work on the things that work until you get to where you want to go." Episode 0 is a raw, unfiltered archive of a recent community session where the mask of "professionalism" is set aside for the truth of the process. As Terrence J. Harris transitions into the Architect of the Still Growing ecosystem, he sits down with his community to discuss the friction of development, the weight of survival instincts, and the necessity of intentional silence. This isn't a lecture; it's a practice of becoming. In This Episode: The Weight of Productivity: The internal struggle of feeling "unworthy" of recreation until the work is done, and the "productivity gods" that keep us from resting. Transmuting Unsettledness: Using tools like music, clothing, and community to turn internal unsettledness into something beautiful. The Survival Instinct: A transparent look at how the "survival instinct" kicks in when sustainability feels weary, and how that forces a reaction rather than an authentic presence. The Math of Growth: Why there is no "balance" in growth—only the discipline to cut what isn't working and over-index on what is. Community as Service: Defining community not as a social circle, but as a renewable resource of service where "iron sharpens iron". Get full access to Newports and News's Substack at newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe [https://newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Matriarchal Alliance: Vetting the Village

I recorded this after I got my second subscriber on substack because in my recent article I said that I would start once I got 10 people, but seeing as they paid for an annual subscription I said why not get started now. So I am going to start with what I have been given. 00:00 – The State of the Union: Opening in a spirit of gratitude and acknowledging the "Newports and News Approved" ecosystem. 01:04 – The First Investor: Celebrating Yasmeen Kenya (Bari Butiki), the first person to invest in this Substack platform and provide the confidence to build this momentum. 01:41 – 2 of 10 Status: A special welcome to our newest paid subscriber, Ms. Michelle from Kanvas Venue. We are officially 20% toward our goal of 10 monthly anchors. 02:25 – Traversing Mediums: Why writing and music are essential outlets for articulating growth, grief, and integrity. 03:11 – The Ignition: Shouting out Ms. Cherron (Plant and People) for providing the spark to turn Still Growing into a lifestyle brand. 03:31 – Cannabis Community Nodes: The impact of Brandi Hester and the upcoming coordination for Black Cannabis Week. 05:14 – The Black Bottom Initiative: The history of the Lancaster Ave Night Market and why Wellness Sundays at Bari Butiki is the sustainable evolution of that vision. 07:08 – Economic Sovereignty: How Ms. Ytina and LA21 (Jackie and Quiana) provided the professional stability to bypass corporate hierarchies and focus on community marketing. 08:41 – The Paid Archive: Explaining the four-week window before content moves to the permanent paid section. Get full access to Newports and News's Substack at newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe [https://newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Source Code: Why I’m Building Newports & News

The Birthplace: From Survival to Sovereignty Everything I’ve built, from the VA2PA tapes to the Still Growing lifestyle brand, came from one birthplace. My background wasn’t originally in music; it was in the streets of Newport News. At 13, environmental pressures led me to skills that were closest to home. We were underserved and lacked exposure, but that environment taught me how to be a "mastermind" of product and distribution. I watched friends like Sean "Smooth Waffle" Mentis return from college with immense audio engineering talent but zero entrepreneurial skills. He was stuck in entry-level jobs in a city that didn't know how to monetize his brilliance. That motivated me to enter the music industry, not just to help him, but to reclaim the 30% of Hip-Hop ownership that rightfully belongs to us. The Evolution: The Studio Era (2019–2023) In 2016, we sold out our first curated show in Virginia, proving we had a model that could be exported. By 2017, we transitioned to Philadelphia, launching the merchandise brand L.O.S.T. (Living Over Society's Traditions). In 2019, I realized the need for a home base and acquired a commercial studio space with my partner, Jazmine. We ran that studio for four years, navigating the complexities of the pandemic and the changing creative landscape. By 2023, I made the strategic decision to close the physical space. That four-year run taught me a vital truth: I am bigger than any one building. I liquidated the physical asset to focus on the true vision, a media platform that functions as a global ecosystem, not just a local rental. The Mission: Organizing the Intelligence Between 2024 and early 2026, I felt my creative fire dwindling behind the predictable paycheck of a corporate job. In March 2025, I returned to my roots, starting the Still Growing project with creative director Sheen Anthony. That fire introduced me to my life partner Toni Lavell and my current business partner Neptune XXI. Still Growing exploded so fast that the music, the very thing that birthed the brand, is still waiting for its proper release. This Substack is the fix. I am building this space to: Centralize my efforts: Moving away from "working all over the place" to a focused digital hub. Document the "Source Code": Providing an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at how culture is built. Offer Intelligence: Creating a reference for how I think and a way to share the business logic behind the products. I didn't just keep delivering products; it’s about telling the story and reclaiming the ownership. Welcome to the beginning. Get full access to Newports and News's Substack at newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe [https://newportsandnews.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]